Vermont Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey W. Crawford and Burlington lawyer John L. Pacht are the finalists to become the next federal judge in Vermont.

Crawford of Burlington has been a Vermont Superior Court judge and was sworn in to the state Supreme Court on Oct. 17. Gov. Peter Shumlin picked him from four finalists for the state’s top court. He was in private practice in Burlington before going on the bench.

Pacht of Hinesburg is a partner in Hoff Curtis Pacht Cassidy & Frame, P.C. He has handled many high-profile criminal cases, including defending Joyce Bellavance, who was convicted for embezzling about $1.6 million from Hardwick Electric while working as office manager.

Both offered brief comments about being a finalist when reached by the Burlington Free Press, which first reported their names online Wednesday.

“It’s a great honor to be considered,” Crawford said.

“It was a privilege to appear before the committee and I am honored that I have been selected to continue in this process,” Pacht said.

Vermont is seeking to replace longtime U.S. District Court Judge William K. Sessions III.

Sessions informed U.S. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt. and President Obama in mid-January that he will be taking senior status after 18 years on the federal bench. The designation allows Sessions to work part-time and limit his work load starting in June.

A special nine-member screening commission is forwarding the names of Crawford and Pacht for further review.

The two finalists are expected to be interviewed by Leahy next week before one name is forwarded to President Obama. The U.S. Senate also needs to confirm the appointment.

The new judge is expected to be assigned to the federal court in Rutland. Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss of Essex has been making the commute since she was appointed by the president in 2009.

Crawford and Pacht were among seven semifinalists announced last month by a nine-member commission selected to screen applications.

Leahy, reacting to the release of the names, said in statement, “I am grateful for the diligent, thorough and timely way the commissioners have handled this important work and for the leadership of Peter Van Oot, who chaired the Commission. They have donated their time, their insight and their patience in doing this job and doing it well. ... I look forward to interviewing the finalists next week in Vermont.”

The commission previously whittled down a list of applicants, which had included other state judges, to seven for further consideration.

After making the names of the semifinalists public, the commission agreed to accept written comments about the candidates in confidence until March 4. The commission cut the list to two this week.

Leahy, the state’s senior senator, and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., each appointed three members to the screening committee, while the Vermont Bar Association was allowed three seats on the panel. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., also has been consulted on the process.